Let me explain………

Below is a historical graph taken right from the Calgary Real Estate Board

You’ll notice the number of (sales/buyers = red line) that happen every month stay fairly consistent (averaging approx 2,000 - 2,500) in
comparison to the number of New Listings (competition = green line) which jumps anywhere from a low of 2,000 to as high as almost 7,000

The interesting part of this graph is that EVERY December the amount of New Listings and Sales is almost the same.

This indicates that even though there are Less Sales (Buyers) there really isn’t that many less, yet there is a DRAMATIC DROP in New Listings
Making December potentially one of the BEST times to be listing and selling your home in and around Calgary.

I bet every other person you’ve talked to told you to wait for Spring ………. Didn’t they?

It’s funny how some people just make assumptions without doing any research of any kind, isn’t it?

Take a look at the amount of New Listings in March, April, and May Every Year. Even though there are more Sales that happen, there is WAY more competition. I’d say that Spring could potentially be one of the worst times to be trying to sell your home if you’re worried about the level of competition.

I hope this all made sense! Give me a call 403-397-8246 Let’s get together and get your home up For Sale in the upcoming December Market!

Mike Star
Discover Real Estate ltd.
217, 222 16th Ave NE - Calgary
ph 403.397.8246

Calgary metro home prices made the first year-over-year increase on a monthly basis since February 2008 according to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®). Prices received an added boost from the sale of a $10.3 million home earlier this month.

“Calgary’s housing prices are edging upwards as consumer confidence improves and demand continues to grow,” says Bonnie Wegerich, President of the Calgary Real Estate Board. “The recent $10.3 million-sale has undoubtedly boosted the average price this month, but even without this sale the average price is higher than a year ago.”

The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 was $454,130, showing an increase of 4 per cent from July 2009, when the average price was $436,782, and showing an increase of 3 per cent from August 2008, when the average price was $440,625. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $283,330 showing a 1 per cent decrease from July 2009, when the average price was $285,032 and a decrease of 2 per cent over last year, when the average price was $287,832. Average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighbourhoods, or account for price differentials between geographical areas.

The last time prices showed a year-over-year increase was February 2008 when single-family homes rose by 5.2 per cent from February 2007 to $471,696 and condos increased by 3.3 per cent from February 2007 to $311,812. The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 without the $10.3 million-sale would be $446,413—coming in just above the average price one year ago.

“We might see a gradual edging up in average prices come this fall, but on the whole, prices will most likely remain relatively stable. With our inventory at just under a four-month supply, the market continues to be in balance,” added Wegerich.

The number of single family homes and condos sold in August in Calgary metro are also both up from the same time a year ago. Typically a slower month for sales, August saw 1,277 single family homes sold in Calgary metro. This is an increase of 9 per cent from August 2008, when single family home sales were 1,170. This is a decrease of 19 per cent from 1,585 sales in July of this year. The number of condominium sales for the month of August 2009 was 632, an increase of 28 per cent from August 2008 when 495 condominiums changed hands. This was a decrease of 10 per cent from the 702 condominium transactions recorded last month.

“We are seeing an upward revision of our housing market forecasts at the national level,” says Wegerich. “I think it is fair to say the recovery in the market has been a little brisker then first expected—and all signs indicate the rebound, all be it gradual, will have some longevity.”

Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of August totaled 1,910, a decrease of 9 per cent from July 2009 when 2,089 new listings were added, and showing a decrease of 16 per cent from August 2008, when 2,270 new listings came to the market. Calgary metro condominium new listings added in August 2009 were 832, down 9 per cent from July 2009, when the MLS® saw 918 condo listings coming to the market. This is a decrease of 21 per cent from August 2008, when condominium listings were 1,054.

The median price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 was $400,000, showing an increase of 3 per cent from July 2009, when the median price was $390,000, and up 1 per cent from August 2008, when the median price was $398,000. The median price of a condominium in August 2009 was $260,000, down 1 per cent from July 2009, when the median was $263,000, and down 3 per cent from August 2008, when the median price was $268,500. All Calgary metro MLS® statistics include properties listed and sold only within Calgary’s city limits. The median price is the price that is midway between the least expensive and most expensive home sold in an area during a given period of time. During that time, half the buyers bought homes that cost more than the median price and half bought homes for less than the median price.

“All in all we are optimistic about the fall market.

Low mortgage rates, government incentives and realistic pricing on the part of sellers are contributing to healthy sales numbers—as is the recent boost in consumer confidence on news that the worst of the economic slowdown is over,” says Wegerich.

CREB® is a professional body of 5,445 licensed brokers and registered associates, representing 252 member offices. The Board does not generate statistics or analysis of any individual member or company’s market share. All MLS® active listings for Calgary and area may be found on the Board’s website at www.creb.com.

For more information, please visit creb.com.